In 2022, the Offender Database recorded that Daniel McDonough, 40, of no fixed address but from West Derby, Liverpool, was jailed for seven years for the rape of a woman nearly half his age. On Thursday, 7 April 2022, it was reported that the defendant attacked his 20-year-old victim while she was sleeping following a night out in 2020. The court reported that McDonough had initially claimed “I never touched her” despite overwhelming forensic evidence.
The investigation established that McDonough and the victim had been drinking with others in a pub in Liverpool before sharing a taxi. After being invited into his home for a drink, the woman went to bed, at which point there had been no physical contact. Merseyside Police reported that she awoke to find McDonough pulling down her clothing and raping her; despite her begging him to stop, the attack continued. The prosecution reported that although McDonough denied any sexual contact, DNA evidence found on the victim’s underwear was attributable to him.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that McDonough put his victim through the additional ordeal of a five-day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. The jury took just three hours of deliberation to unanimously find him guilty on Tuesday, 5 April 2022. The prosecution reported that Senior Crown Prosecutor Sarah Egan, of the CPS Mersey-Cheshire RASSO unit, described the incident as a “disgusting attack” that breached the victim’s trust in Liverpool, Merseyside.
Judge Gary Woodhall noted the inexcusable nature of the behaviour and the courage shown by the victim in coming forward. For his actions in Liverpool, McDonough was sentenced to seven years in prison. The judge noted that the custodial term would be accompanied by an indefinite restraining order to prevent the defendant from ever having contact with his victim again.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Daniel McDonough was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: Seven years in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements were activated for life.
- Restraining Order: An indefinite order prohibiting any contact with the victim.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a trial conviction.
- Origin: West Derby, Liverpool, Merseyside.
Monitoring and Public Protection
McDonough is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by Merseyside Police and the prison estate. Due to the predatory nature of his attack on a sleeping victim in West Derby, his management is subject to high-level oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, McDonough must comply with notification requirements regarding his identity and residence for the remainder of his life. Authorities state that his history of deceptive denials in the face of DNA evidence necessitates permanent and stringent monitoring of his conduct. Any further sexual misconduct or breach of his indefinite restraining order in West Derby, Liverpool, or elsewhere will result in immediate arrest and a return to the court system for a significantly lengthier term of incarceration.
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